Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

October 7, 2020

Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale closing New Haven restaurant

Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale on Long Wharf Drive in New Haven.
By Natalie Missakian

Lovers of fried clams and lobster rolls are going to have to travel a little farther up I-95 for their seafood fix. 

The owners of iconic Connecticut seafood restaurant Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale announced Wednesday morning that they’re closing their New Haven restaurant on Oct. 18.

In a letter posted on the restaurant’s website and Facebook page, operators blamed the closing on an expiring lease and continuing fallout from COVID-19.

“The decision to close our New Haven operation has been a difficult one,” the letter said. “We have worked very hard for the past eight months to try and keep the business going. We ultimately realized that the effects of the virus won’t soon go away, and have rippled through our community in ways that deeply affected the Long Wharf business.”
Two other Fish Tale restaurants, in Madison and Westbrook, will remain open and will accept all gift cards purchased at the New Haven location, the letter said.

The Elm City restaurant opened with great excitement in late 2012 in the waterfront spot next to the Long Wharf Maritime Center. That location had previously housed two other restaurants, The Rusty Scupper and Leon’s.

Brothers Lenny and Joe Goldberg opened the first Lenny & Joe’s on Route 1 in Madison in 1979, and the Westbrook restaurant opened in 1986. Brian Faye and Art Linares opened the New Haven location under a licensing agreement with the brothers.

Customers flooded the restaurant’s Facebook page Wednesday morning with comments expressing their sadness and disappointment over the closing, along with well wishes. 

The owners said in their letter that they will be forever grateful to the people of New Haven who “welcomed us with open arms.” 

“We are thrilled that the two original Lenny & Joe’s will be there for you!” they said. “The Long Wharf staff, customers and our suppliers and the great city of New Haven have our sincere thanks.”

In June, the owners of Lenny & Joe’s filed a lawsuit against their insurance provider for refusing to pay for business losses related to the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. That case is still pending.

Sign up for Enews

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF